Bathing apparatus



A ril 8, 1958 R. M. M GEE BATHING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1955 ROBERT M, MC GEE /NVEN7'OR HUEBNER BEEHLER, WORREL' 8 HERZ/G United States Patent BATHING APPARATUS Robert M. McGee, Fresno, Calif.

Application July 1, 1955, Serial No. 519,556

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-145) as evidenced by the desire of children to play around lawn sprinklers and the like.

Partially because of the temperature of the water and partially because of the evaporation created by spraying the water into the air, an outdoor shower bath is especially cooling and refreshing. It offers at least temporary relief from high temperatures and humidity and adds considerable pleasure to sun-bathing. Although especially appealing to children, it has appear to adults and is useful around swimming pools, beaches, lawns, parks,

homes and the like.

Although primarily intended for use out of doors, the present invention is not limited to such use. Clearly, the principles of this invention may be applied to many types of bathing apparatus regardless of location or environment.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for taking shower baths.

Another object is to provide relief from high temperatures and humidity by subjecting a person to a cooling spray of water while assuming a comfortably seated position.

Another object is to provide a shower bath apparatus automatically operable by the imposition of a bathers weight thereon. 3

Another object is to provide a shower bath apparatus which is simple and economical to make and use, dependable and safe in operation, durable'in construction and highly effective in performing its intended functions.

These together with other objects will become more tion.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the bathing apparatus of the present invention showing a person in sitting position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through a portion of the bathing apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is taken at the position indicated by line 22 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, substantially diametric, vertical section taken through the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of a central portion of the bathing apparatus of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the bathing apparatus.

fully apparent upon reference to the following descrip- Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawing:

A bathing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1. The apparatus provides :1 preferably rigid substantially circular hollow fluid conducting frame 11 of pipe or the like having closed ends 12 arranged in adjacent spaced relation. The frame has a plurality of spaced, upwardly directed orifices 13 therein. The orifices are somewhat inwardly directed. As is evident in Fig. 1, the frame is adapted to rest on a supporting surface, such as the ground or other supporting surface, not shown, in a substantially horizontal position. A bridge plate 14 is secured, as by welding, to the adjacent ends of the frame for imparting rigidity thereto. The frame may be flexible, if desired. In such event, the circular frame 11 is made of rubber or plastic hose or the like.

A mounting plate or bracket 20, constituting a base member of substantially circular shape, is positioned concentrically within the fluid conducting frame 11 and provides upper and lower surfaces and a right-angularly shaped notch 21 adjacent to its periphery. The mounting plate provides pairs of perpendicularly downwardly extended diametrically opposed flanges 22 and 23. A pair of elongated axiallyv aligned braces 24 individually have inner ends integrally connected to an opposed pair of flanges 22, are radially extended outwardly therefrom and have outer ends rigidly secured, as by welding, to diametrically opposed positions on the fluid conducting frame. The braces add rigidity to the frame and are preferably hollow tubing although they are not utilized in the illustrated embodiment for the conduction of fluid.

An elongated fluid inlet conduit 29 is radially positioned in the frame 11 and provides an inner threaded end 30 extended through one of the flanges 23 of the mounting plate 20. The inlet conduit is connected, as by welding, at 31 to the bridge plate 14 between the adjacent ends 12 of the frame and has an outer end 32 ex- A coupling member 34 tended outwardly of the frame. is connected to the outer end of the inlet conduit to enable attachment of the inlet conduit to a convenient source of fluid under pressure, such as a hose 35.

A fluid control valve is positioned beneath the mounting plate 20 and provides a female inlet 41 screwthreadably connected to the inner screw-threaded end 30 of the inlet conduit 29 and a threaded female outlet 42. The valve may be of any suitable size having an opened and a closed position. A valve control member 43, in the form of a crank arm, is connected to the valve for moving the valve between opened and closed positions.

An elongated radially extended fluid distributing conduit 5t) provides an inner threaded end 51 threadably connected in the outlet receptacle 42 of the valve 40, an outer end 52 secured, as by Welding, to the fluid conducting frame 11 and in fluid communication therewith. It is noted that the distributing conduit and the inlet conduit 30 are arranged diametrically of the frame and in substantially right angular relation to the brace 23 thereby providing a rigid, durable and symmetrical support for the apparatus.

A substantially cylindrical axially upright housing has a lower end secured, as by welding, to the upper surface of the mounting plate 20 and an upper end wall 51 having a concentric opening 62 therein. The housing has a longitudinally extended substantially vertically dis-- posed slot 63 at one side thereof, a vertically disposed quadrant-shaped notch 64 adjacent to its lower end and the notch 21 in the mounting plate, and a substantially circular window 65 at the side of the housing oppositeto the-slot. A guide plate 66 is transversely secured within the housing, as by welding, in spaced substantial ly parallel relation to the upper wall and provides a concentric opening 67 vertically aligned with theopemng in'the upper Wall.

An elongated cylindrical plunger-rod 70jhaving' upper movement between an elevated position, as seen inFigs.

2 and 3,- anda depressed position,-qas seen in Fig. l. The seat isyieldabl-y urged into'elevated position, however, by a coil spring 78=mounted in circumscribing relation onthe plunger rod and the shank and interposed the seat-and the upper end wall61 of the'housing 60.

An annular collar 80 is adjustably slidably mounted on the lower end 72 of the plunger rod 70 and a set screw 81 is extended therethrough for engagement with therod to fix the location of the collar, as desired. will be noted that adjustments of the set screw may be madethrough the. window 65 in the housing 60. An arm 82. is rigidly connected to the collar and provides a pin 83 thereon extended outwardly through the slot 63 in the housing for movement therein during reciprocation of the plunger rod 70. An elongated link 84 pivotally interconnects the pin andthe valve control member 43. For this purposewashers 85 are provided on the pin on opposite sides of the link and a cotter pin 86 is-extended through the pin for preventing disengagement of the link from the pin during operation. Further, a threaded bolt 87 and nut SS- equippedWith suitable washers are ernployed' to connect the control arm to the link.

A.-frusto-conica1 shield or apron 90 having open opposite endsis mounted-in axially upright position with its upper end in circumscribing fitted relation adjacent to the upper end of the housing 60'and is secured there to by sheet metal screws 91' or other suitable means. The shieldprovides a plurality of substantially semicircular notches 92 atits lower end edge peripherally spaced therearound at substantially 90 intervals and adapted tofit over the braces 23, inlet conduit 30 and distributing conduit 50, as is evident in Figs. 1 and 3.

Operation in order to operate the device, a child or other person as indicated at 100 in Fig. l, sits on the seat 75 thereby depressing the plunger rod 70 against the upward urgence of the spring 78. This rotates the valve control member 43 opening the valve 40 and .permitting the passage of water from the inlet conduit 29 through the distributing conduit 50 into the fluid conducting frame 11. Inasmuch as the Water is under pressure, it is discharged from the frame through the outlet orifices'13 in upwardly inwardly directed arcuate paths creating a gentle spray over the person sitting on the seat. The person is thus subjected to a shower bath of water in a refreshing and delightful manner.

The apparatus of the present invention is especially convenient inasmuch as the person-100 receiving the shower bath is in complete control of the duration of spray application. Whenever it is desired to turn off the spray of water, it is only necessary to stand up or otherwise relieve downward pressure on the seat 75 thereby permitting the plunger rod and seat to elevate under action of the spring 78. This, of course, again rotates the valve control member and moves the valve into closed position. Closing of the valve blocks fluid flow from the inlet conduit 29 to the distributing conduit 50 and therefore the spray of water is turned off. It has been found that this otters a decided safety factor when even small children use the apparatus inasmuch as such a child instinctly jumps off the seat when the water spray becomes excessive.

It is to be noted that the fluid inlet conduit 29 and the distributing conduit 50 as well as the braces 24 impart rigidity to the apparatus. Although described in the present embodiment as principally rigidifying members, the braces may be employed to conduct fluid in the same manner as the distributing conduit, as will be apparent. The shield 90 aids in supporting the weight of a person sitting on 'the seat through its bracing effect on the housing 60 and in association with the mounting plate 29 and the housing 60 otters protection for the valve 40 and described control system as well as enhancing the appearance of the apparatus. Whenever it is desired to adjust the collar 80, the screws 91 are removed thereby permitting removal of the shieldto gain access to the set screw 81 through the window 65.

Thebathing apparatus 10 of this invention is currently in useand has been highly successful inproviding not only a healthy, 3 refreshing and cooling spray of water for sun bathing and the like but also a source of amusel'liBIlt, enjoymentaud relaxation for both childern and Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may bemade therefromwithin the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desiredtosecure by Letters Patent is:

An automatically operable shower bathing, apparatus comprising. a substantially circular hollow tubular support frame adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal plane and having a plurality of upwardly directed fluid discharge orifices peripherally spaced therearound, a substantially horizontally disposed mounting plate concentrically located within thetrame, a pair of elongated axially aligned radially, extended braces having inner ends integrally connected to the mounting plate, and outer ends rigidly connected to the frame, a fluid distributing conduit-radially disposed within the frame having an outer end in fluid communication with the frame and an inner end. supported in the mounting plate, a fluid inlet conduit radially disposed within the frame axially aligned withthe distributingconduit having an outer end adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and an inner end supported in the mounting plate, a valve interconnecting the inner ends of the conduits having an open position permitting conduction of fluid from the inlet conduit to the distributing conduit and a closed position precluding such conduction, a valve control member operatively connected to the valve for opening and closing the valve, a substantially cylindrical housing supported in upright position on the mounting plate providing an upper wall and a longitudinally extended substantially vertically disposed slot therein, a transversely disposed guide plate mounted within the housing in parallel spaced relation to the upper Wall, an elongated substantially vertically disposed rod concentrically slidably extended through the upper plate and the guide plate, a journal pin, means longitudinally adjustably mounting the pin on the rod and extended through the slot in the housing for movement therein, a link pivotally interconnecting the pin and the valve control member, a seat mounted on the rod, a coil spring interposed the seat and the upper wall of the housing positioned in circumscribing relation on the rod for urging the seat into upper position, and a frusto-conical shield having an upper open end fitted in circumscribing relation to the housing and a lower end fitted over the braces and conduits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

